No Gimmicks, Just Results®

Ambassador of First Impressions®

The Black Swan* of 
Legal Marketing

Old school ethics; Aggressive representation.

Harlan Schillinger has over four decades (46 years) of experience in legal advertising with a passion for legal marketing, intake, and conversion.

Harlan Schillinger is widely considered the Grandfather of Legal Advertising, being the very first in the Legal field to produce and market Television Advertising for the Legal community. Harlan's commercials started airing throughout the country in 1978-79.

Harlan has worked with more than 140 law firms in over 98 markets throughout North America. Currently, he is consulting privately only with lawyers who share his vision of increasing business, being accountable, and obtaining high-value cases. He takes, perhaps, the most unique and accountable approach to intake and conversion and insists on complete accountability within that arena.

In April 2016 Harlan retired from Network Affiliates of Lakewood, Colorado, the nation's first and largest Full-Service Legal advertising agency, where he was the leader of their attorney marketing efforts for over 34 years. Before joining and merging his business with Network Affiliates in 1984, Harlan was Vice President and one of the founding partners of Madison, Muyskens & Jones advertising agency in Lakeville, Connecticut. In 1975, along with his partners, Harlan founded the first syndication TV production firm for high-end retailers and Lawyers, creating television commercials that aired throughout the United States and Canada.

Since 1979, Harlan has worked aggressively, productively, and professionally within the Legal advertising space.

When asked about his approach to legal marketing and client relationships, Harlan says, "Creating opportunities and increasing market share for advertising/marketing-oriented law firms is my #1 priority. The value of the case is everything in such a crowded market." Harlan has trademarked within the Legal advertising world the three phrases that have become his backbone of philosophy; What You Don't Know, You Don't Know®, Ambassador of First Impressions®, and Making a Wrong a Right®.

Several years ago, Harlan took his obsession with intake and conversion to a new level. He, along with his two other partners, Dino Colombo Esq. and Eric Coffman developed Lead Docket. It is software for Intake and Conversion within Law firms. Simply put, it helps law firms increase their net business by 20, 30, or 40 percent of their net profits. Harlan says Lead Docket helps law firms control, manage, and better prosper from Intake and Conversion. Increasing your bottom line without spending a dime more on advertising is great! Lead Docket tells you what you do not know and do not see, that is the trick.

Harlan is an intricate part of the National Trial Lawyers Executive Summit committee as well as a senior editor and writer for the National Trial Lawyers Magazine. Being the chairman of the NTLA’s “A” list and Magazine is a tremendous honor that Harlan takes very seriously. In 2019 Harlan Created the “ National Trial Lawyers Advertising Hall of Fame https://goldengavelawards.com/the-trial-lawyer-advertising-hall-of-fame/. Honoring the great lawyers and marketers that created our Legal marketing world is of utmost importance to our community and legacy. In addition, Harlan is the Chairman and founding partner of “ The Golden Gavel Awards “. Each year we choose via an independent focus group the Best of The Best Legal advertising.

Harlan is a Brand Ambassador for FileVine and Lead Docket software. He contributes to their continuing understanding and expertise in Law firm Technology and Marketing.

Harlan sits on the advisory board of PILLMA as well as a handful of other mastermind groups for continuing education and the advancement of Legal Marketing.

His passion is riding and building custom motorcycles. He is a proud member of the Hamsters USA® Motorcycle group. It is widely known as the most prestigious motorcycle group in the world. Membership is exclusive and prestigious.

Harlan sucks at golf but keeps swinging the clubs. Nothing on the golf course enters his mind for 18 holes. Therapy for sure!

Harlan sits on the Board of the Children's Care Hospital in South Dakota (http://cchs.org), a special needs hospital dedicated to helping special needs children from all parts of the country. He is co-chairman of The Hamsters USA effort each year in their fundraising efforts for this charity. Together, with his motorcycle friends, they have raised well over $4.2 million over the past 13 years.

He shares his time between Spearfish, South Dakota and Scottsdale, Arizona.